Inhaler.



G. A. EVANS.

INHALER. I APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1912.

Patented Nov. '12, 191-2, I

WITNESSES INVENTOR George A.Evoms ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (IO-.WASHINUTON. D. c.

GEORGE A. EVANS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INHALER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 6, 1912. Serial No. 695,377.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Tnhaler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a vaporizing inhaler, and more particularly relates to an inhaler designed for the treatment of diseases of the nose, throat and lungs.

An object of my invention is to provide an inhaler having means for regulating the amount of air fed through the same and to provide means for regulating the medicinal strength of the impregnated air.

above-outlined character having means for regulating the expiration of air from the lungs of the user.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above outlined character, the different parts of which may be readily disassembled for cleaning, sterilizing and re-charging.

I attain the above-outlined objects by constructing a receptacle having an adjustable valve-controlled inlet at one end and an outlet tube from the opposite end, within which receptacle is adapted to be disposed a series of telescoped medicinally impregnated members arranged to cause the air from said inlet to take a tortuous and elongated passage to the outlet. The outlet tube terminates in the mouth piece, extending through which mouth piece and tube is an opening by means of which the expiration of the inhaled air may be regulated.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of the inlet and taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Described more in detail, I have shown a receptacle in the form of an open-end vaporizing chamber or cylinder 5, the top of which is closed by a cap 6 in screW-threaded engagement with the cylinder 5. Centrally disposed within the cap 6 is one end of an inlet tube 7, which tube is enlarged, intermediate'its length, tov form a horizontallydisposed cylindrical casing 8, within which casing is mounted a cylindrical valve 9, having alined ports 10 adapted to place the interior of the cylinder 5 in communication with the outside air. This valve is rotated by means of a milled head 11 screwed in the outer end thereof and bearing upon one face of the casing 8; By this means it is seen that the amount of air admitted into the inhaler may be regulated by rotating the head 11, thereby varying the opening through the Patented Nov.12,1912.

inlet tube 7. The opposite or lower end of the cylinder5 is closed by a cap 12 similar A further object of my invention is to provide an outlet tube for a device of the in construction to the cap 6; This cap has upon. its inner face, a series of concentrically formed rings 13 and 14: integral with the cap 12, for a purpose hereinafter described. Threaded centrally through the cap 12fis an outlet pipe 15 arranged withthe cylinder to simulate a smoking pipe, the lowest portion of the crotch of the Ushaped portion 16 at one end of said pipe having a stud 17 threaded therein in order to form a normally closed vent for the removal of any liquid flowing into the pipe from either the cylinder 5 or from the mouth of theuser. The outer end of the pipe 15 has threaded thereon a sleeve 18 having an opening 19 in the top thereof and adjacent the outer end. Slidably mounted within the sleeve 18 and fitting the same is a mouth piece 20 having an opening 21 in the side thereof adapted to coact with the opening 19 to form a variable sized outlet to regulate the respirations of the patient. If desired, the mouth piece may have its outer end contracted to form a nozzle 22.

In order to charge the air as it passes through the cylinder, there is disposed in said cylinder, a plurality of tubes 23, which may be corrugated, if desired. These tubes ing therethrough. By this construction, it'

will be seen that the air passing through the inlet tube 7 must take a long tortuous passage down one side of one tube through the openings 25 and up the other side of said tube, eventually flowing down through the center tube through the outlet pipe 15. These tubes may be constructed of any suitable material, but it has been found that white wood from which all water and resinous substance has been abstracted, is admirably adapted for this purpose. The tubes are held in position by any suitable means, but,

as shown, a helical spring 27 surrounds the inner end of the pipe 7 and engages the closed end 2 1 of the inner tube. By this construction, it is possible to increase or decrease the number of medicated tubes to vary the strength of the medication or to make any desired combination of medicaments.

If desired, the inner ring 13 may be of a greater height than the other rings 14, and this inner ring may carry, at its upper end, a screen 28. Disposed within the rin 13 and between the screen 28 and the end or the pipe 15, is a stop ledge29 having a central opening 30 therein. Normally resting on the end of the pipe 15 within the ring 13 and below the ledge 29, is a valve 31 in the form of a fiat plate, which valve is adapted to be raised by pressure in the pipe 15, contacting with the ledge 29 to close the opening 30 and to intercept fluid communication between the pipe 15 and the cylinder 5, or to prevent any solid matter passing from the inhaler.

To use the device, the cylinder 5 is unscrewed from the base 12 and the medicinally impregnated tubes charged to give the desired combination of medicaments, are inserted in the cylinder and the cap 12 screwed into place. Then byplacing the finger over the opening 19 and opening the valve 9, air is drawn in passing over the medicated tubes through the pipe 15 and is inhaled by the user, filling his lungs if the instrument is used for pulmonary diseases. In order to diffuse the inhaled medicated air, the patient exhales through the mouth piece 20, removing his finger from the opening 19. The pressure in the pipe 15 will raise the valve 31 of]? its seat on the end of the tube or pipe 15, closing the opening 30, and the air is expired through the opening 19, said opening being adjusted to regulate this eX- piration. Again placing the finger over the opening 19, or rotating the mouth piece 20 so as to close this opening, the patient again draws the air in its tortuous passage through the cylinder 5, said air being charged with the medicaments as it passes through said cylinder. In those cases where the expiration is not of sufficient strength to support the valve 31 in its closing position, or as an extra precaution in preventing the expired air from passing through the cylinder 5, the operator may place his finger over the inlet 7 or may close the valve 8.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An inhaler comprising a cylinder, heads closing said cylinder, spacing rings integral with one of said heads, medicated tubes of prepared wood removably positioned within said cylinder and maintained in spaced positions by said rings, and a spring engaging some of said tubes for holding the same in engagement with one of said heads.

2. An inhaler comprising a container, heads closing said container formed with apertures therein, a plurality of chemically impregnated members arranged in said container formed with porous walls, said members being arranged in series, each member having different vertical and trans\"erse diameters from its fellows, every other member having both ends open and every other alternate member having one end open and the other closed, said members being disposed one within the other to form a continuous tortuous passageway between the apertures in said heads,and means for main taining said members in said container.

3. An inhaler comprising a cylinder, heads for said cylinder formed with apertures therein, spacing rings integral with one of said heads, and medicated tubes removably positioned within said cylinder over said rings whereby said tubes are maintained in spaced position by said rings.

t. An inhaler comprising a cylinder, heads closing said cylinder, spacing rings integral with one of said heads, medicated tubes removably positioned within said cylinder and maintained in spaced position by said rings, and means maintaining certain of said tubes in engagement with one of said heads.

5. An inhaler comprising a cylinder, heads closing said cylinder, spacing rings integral with one of said heads, medicated tubes of prepared wood removably positioned within said cylinder and maintained in spaced position by said rings, and means maintaining certain of said tubes in engagement with one of said heads.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. EVANS.

Witnesses ALFRED N. Evans,

WV. S. ORTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

